Welcome to a Prehistoric Time!

Last week we began our exciting unit on dinosaurs!  The students were all very excited to try out the different dinosaur centres at play time - finding fossils in the sand table, playing with muddy dinosaurs in the sensory bin, making fossils out of moon sand, walking on dinosaur stilts, and building dinosaur puzzles.  

Some Dinosaur Math

I challenged the students with the question - just how BIG was a T-Rex?  We watched a short video that compared a T-Rex to a house, elephant, tennis court, and football field.  The students couldn't believe that the T-Rex was as tall as a house and the same length as a tennis court!

We then got chatting about a T-Rex's foot - I challenged the students again - how many of our feet do you think can fit inside a T-Rex's footprint?  We used a paper template of a T-Rex foot to measure.  The students could not believe how big it really was, and just how many of our shoes we could fit into just ONE T-Rex footprint.  Click here to see more pictures of our footprint measuring.  

Dinosaurs Like to Get Messy Too!

We had fun making dinosaur footprints this past week.  We worked together to make two big 'dino track' pictures per class.  Click here for more pictures of our footprint painting.

Pink Shirt Day

We were excited to be able to see the Kindness Matters video on pink shirt day.  If you look closely - you can even see some of our PreK friends in the dancing scene!  I began to introduce the concept of bullying.  The students took turns sharing different behaviours that are "mean" and could hurt someone's feelings.  Each time a behaviour was shared we folded up a paper heart.  At the end I unfolded the heart so the students could see how crumpled it was.  We talked about how when you are mean to someone it hurts that person's heart; and although you can say sorry, you can never take back what happened.  We ended our lesson by each sharing a behaviour that is kind.  

In The Gym

This week we strengthened our gross motor skills in the gym.  The students used towels to pull each other around the gym, they enjoyed taking turns being the "tow truck" and the "broken car".  We also had fun developing body awareness while playing musical towels.  

Coming Up

This upcoming week we will continue with our dinosaur theme.  

• March 1st and March 2nd - early dismissal days 
• The morning class will dismiss at 10:25 am
• The afternoon class will dismiss at 2:15 pm

Happy Valentine's Day!

We had a fun week of Valentine's activities.  We had a fun day of Valentine's Day parties on Tuesday.  Thank you to all of the parents who sent snacks for the party.  Our morning class had fun with some photo props that one of our friends brought in, you can click here to see some pictures of their photo booth fun.

We enjoyed some messy, sensory art this week.  

We used vinegar and baking soda to make fizzy heart art.  We also used shaving cream and paint to make swirled hearts.

You can click here to see some pictures of our messy fun.  Unfortunately the shaving cream hearts were too messy for picture taking, but we were able to capture some of the fizzy heart art!

Some Mindful Tasting

The students enjoyed being 'chefs' this past week by making their own ants on a log.  We had fun talking about, smelling, and exploring the different ingredients.  I was proud of the kids for "trying" their food creation, and quite a few of our friends even liked it!  We then used the celery ends to paint some beautiful Valentine bouquets.  Click here to see pictures of our celery adventures.  

Spell-A-Thon

I was proud of the students spelling their names for our PreK Spell-A-Thon.  If your child collected pledges, I sent the forms home with their results on Thursday.  Money is due by Wednesday, February 22nd.  

Coming Up

This week we will begin our exciting unit on Dinosaurs!  We will also be having pink shirt day on Wednesday.  Each student will be given a pink shirt on this day.  We will be discussing bullying, kindness, and how our actions can affect other people.  

Important upcoming dates:

• February 20th - no school - Family Day
• March 1st and 2nd - early dismissal days
• The morning class will dismiss at 10:25 am
• The afternoon class will dismiss at 2:15 pm

A Busy Week!

Last week was short, out of routine, and a whole lot of fun!  Thank you for being so flexible with the anti-bullying video and pancake breakfast days.  We had a lot of fun spending the day at Robina Baker, and I can't wait to see the finished product.  

We were spoiled by Riverview School once again with the pancake breakfast.  Our morning students were thrilled to be able to eat pancakes, bacon, and have a glass of juice in the big gym!  Thank you Riverview staff for the wonderful food and hospitality!  You can click here to see more pictures of the pancake breakfast.  

Spreading the PreK Love

The morning class completed their group act of kindness by hanging the rainbows they made around the school.  I am so proud of the splash of colour and cheer they have added to the school!  You can click here to see more pictures of the rainbow hanging.  Thank you Mrs. Rudrud for giving us a hand!

Buddy Reading

Our afternoon class continues to be spoiled every other day by the leadership students who come to read with us.  We look forward to spending this quality time with our big friends.  You can click here to see more pictures from buddy reading.  

Coming Up

This week will continue to be about Valentine's Day.  

We will be having a Valentine's Day party on Tuesday, February 14th.  I have sent home class lists if you want to make cards for your child to hand out.  I have also sent notes home to ask some parents to send snacks for our party.  Our part time Monday/Wednesday students are welcome to join us for either the morning or the afternoon party (depending on which time slot they usually attend).  Please see the note that was sent home for more details.  

Important Dates:

• January 14th - Valentine's Day Party

• January 20th - no school - Family Day 

Vroom Vroom!

It was another short week.  We continued with our transportation theme this week.  We had fun making a special hot air balloon project!  The students also enjoyed making cars from paper plates, and playing with our very messy car wash during center time.  You can click here to see some pictures from our week.

Next Week - IMPORTANT

Next Tuesday (February 7th), Robina Baker School is going to be making an anti-bullying video!  This is an exciting project that the ENTIRE school will be involved in.

What does this mean for PreK?

• We will spend the morning at Robina Baker School
• BOTH the morning and the afternoon classes are welcome to join us for this exciting project
• The Monday/Wednesday students are also welcome to join us
• We will plan to be a Robina Baker from 9:30 am - 12:30 pm
• PARENTS will be required to DROP their child off and PICK them up from Robina Baker School on this day

There will be NO regular PreK Classes at Riverview on this day

Pancake Breakfast - Wednesday

Our classes have been invited to join the Riverview pancake breakfast on Wednesday, February 8th.  The afternoon students are welcome to come join the morning kids for pancakes, bacon, and juice with our "big friends" at 8:25 am (afternoon Mom's and Dad's are welcome stay for breakfast and then take their children home after breakfast is over).

Some BIG Acts of Kindness

The students were very motivated to work on their group acts of kindness this week.  These ideas are completely student based.  I am so proud of how hard they worked and the creativeness in their thinking.  

The morning class has created four HUGE rainbows.  Their idea is to spread love and happiness around Riverview School with their beautiful rainbows.    They want to make the "big kids" happy.  Next week we will hang up our works of art and beautify the school!  You can click here to see more pictures of our rainbow process. 

The afternoon class had the idea to clean up the playground and school field.  I was amazed with how much garbage they collected - all without complaint!  The students were eager to find garbage during their winter walk and get it out of our field.  Their thinking is that this would be a kind action for the "big kids" of Riverview School.  

Winter Walk

We participated in our own little PreK winter walk this Wednesday.  We took a rather icy walk around the school.  We were thrilled when we came back inside and the Riverview office staff had hot chocolate ready for us!  You can click here to see more pictures of our winter walk fun.

Coming Up

Next week we will begin our Valentine's Day theme!  

We will be planning to have our Valentine's Day parties on February 14th.  The Monday/Wednesday students will be invited to join for their normal time slot (either the morning or the afternoon).  I will be asking some parents to send snacks for the party.  Keep your eyes out for a note if it's your turn!

I will also send home a class list if you would like to help your child make Valentine cards to pass out at our party.  

• February 7th, 9:30 am - 12:30 pm 
• PreK will be meeting at Robina Baker School 
• There will be NO regular classes at Riverview on this day

• February 8th, 8:25 am
• Pancake breakfast at Riverview School

• Both classes are invited to enjoy pancakes, bacon, and juice (the afternoon class will go home after breakfast is over)

• February 9th and 10th - no school
• Teacher's Convention

• February 14th
• Valentine's Day party